The all-mighty EARTH

[Ravenpig]

Ok, honest review time.

Earth 2- This was almost exactly what I did NOT want it to be. It was brutally boring and loooonngg. I found myself thinking "what's the point of this" and "when does this end" way too much. I'll skip rating it. Let's just say it's not my thing.

However, I powered through and chose to hear another if their albums based on which I thought had the coolest cover, which led me to :

The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull- Way way better. I don't mind if songs don't go anywhere, that wasn't my problem with Earth 2. In this album they're actually playing songs and not an hour of whatever that was. Unlike Earth 2 this one felt like it finished fast because I genuinely enjoyed it. Yes I'm aware that this one is way more "accessible". Sue me.

I'll give this one a 7/10. Good stuff.

[Calfium Jay]

There's no shame in liking The Bees.. over Earth 2.

[The Boss]

Didn't you have a birthday party to go to?

No. My girlfriend did.

So I stayed home and listened to EARTH whilst shit-posting on Facebook and here.

Glad you gave it a go, Piglet. Frankly, I'm really surprised you didn't dig "EARTH 2". That album birthed an entire genre and dozens of bands. I can kind of see where you're coming from, but still. You have excellent taste, so I simply assumed that you would dig it.

And again, really surprised that you dug "BEES . . ." To be sure, it's an excellent album - but it just goes to show how varied Carlson's approach to music has been over the years.

"THRONES AND DOMINIONS" has been widely panned and critically and commercially it's EARTH's worst album. I would suggest hitting it hard. It has real songs with verse-chorus-verse etc, while still keeping that heady opiate daze of drone. I have a funny feeling you'll love it.

I think it's fucking great, but it's so unlike anything else that he's done that I've convinced myself that it's not really an EARTH album.

Don't go absolutely out of your way to listen to it, but I would strongly suggest you stream it whilst surfing the net or something. You'll be well rewarded.

Cal knows his EARTH pretty well. Any opinions on what I just said?

[Ravenpig]

I'm more than willing to keep hearing their stuff and will do so.

[The Boss]

LOL, MOTHRA are supporting EARTH here in Auckland on Saturday.

Owned into oblivion.

[UndKeineZwEier]

I heard they had to fight with Gojira to get that supporting slot.

[The Boss]

I heard they had to fight with Gojira to get that supporting slot.

I strongly doubt that.

[Ravenpig]

I heard they had to fight with Gojira to get that supporting slot.

Loulz. I get it.

[The Boss]

Ugh, I just got it.

I'm an idiot.

Nice one, Uke!

[Kittaan]

Gojiraaaaaa!!!

[The Boss]

Thirty (?) hours out, and I could not be happier.

From my understanding, the venue will be like the Cambridge in Newcastle. Um, think "small, tight pub with a stage" and you'll be there - then expand that by a hundred.

My girlfriend has praised this "group" for being able to "relax" her over the years. I'm still a little nervous as to how she'll react, but fuck it - I bought the tickets, so she'll just have to wear it. In kind, she's taking me to a reggae night in three weeks, so we're even.

This anticipation reminds me of the last gig I went to. I'll never forget it - thanks so much, mate. TOOL tix on me, OK? It was a wonderful gesture, and I'll never forget literally walking up that hill with you, and you lighting a smoke and going "Nah, it's for ya birthday". I kind of wanted to cry then, to be honest.

I'll admit this now: I'm not too good with the names of EARTH tracks, so my review tomorrow will most likely be something that speaks in great waves of ambiguity.

Also, apparently beers on tap here cost $7. I'm hoping I find a dreadlock'd white dude before the show and smoke some spliff.

Could not be more excited. EARTH. Holy fuck.

[Calfium Jay]

The only two artist/musicians on the face of this earth (still living) that I could give a shit about meeting are Boyd Rice and Dylan Carlson.

There used to be three but I already got the chance to meet Buzzo in person.

Also, the poster for the upcoming Earth gig in Melbourne is godly.

I hope the merch booth is well stocked....

[The Boss]

The only two artist/musicians on the face of this earth (still living) that I could give a shit about meeting are Boyd Rice and Dylan Carlson.

There used to be three but I already got the chance to meet Buzzo in person.

Also, the poster for the upcoming Earth gig in Melbourne is godly.

I hope the merch booth is well stocked....

Oh, man, I've been dreading that - I'm obviously on fumes, as I haven't worked since October last year. But how do you turn down a T-Shirt? With what is bound to be wicked design from EARTH?

Not huge on posters, but our walls are lacking here. They're currently covered with Islander stuff. Awesome, sure, but not really MY input.

$100 night for sure tomorrow night.

[Calfium Jay]

Here's hoping they play Ouroboros Is Broken.....

[The Boss]

Here's hoping they play Ouroboros Is Broken.....

mfw we're bonding again.

I'm hoping that a. My girlfriend let's me smoke a sneaky cigarette so that I can b. Talk nonsense with random dudes so I can bring up the fact that I know my EARTH shit.

I assume I get hipster points for knowing the vocalist for PEN CAP CHEW did vocals on that EP.

[M0G]

The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull is a brilliant album. I would pay a stupid amount of money to see them play that album in it's entirety.

[The Boss]

The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull is a brilliant album. I would pay a stupid amount of money to see them play that album in it's entirety.

It rocked me hard today. I actually stopped doing internet stuff just to sit there and go "gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah".

[The Boss]

No reviews yet for the Dunedin show, but I guess that's to be expected. This time tomorrow we should have one for the Wellington show.

[Kittaan]

Enjoy the show bro. Really glad you're getting to see one of your favorite bands. One of the things that makes life worth living. Cheers and beers.

[The Boss]

Enjoy the show bro. Really glad you're getting to see one of your favorite bands. One of the things that makes life worth living. Cheers and beers.

Thanks so much, man. This'll be MELVINS, HELMET, and EARTH as the three bands I've seen since about 2005.

So I'm pretty excited. Korea REALLY boned me when it came to enjoying the simple pleasure of a decent band and a beer in a questionable pub.

EDIT: Wicked-sick photos. I'm totally not going to show my girlfriend. She's already pretty hesitant about the whole idea anyway. Bearded dudes who look like they do drugs isn't really her thing, which is ironic, when you think about it.

I've told her to just be prepared to have an interesting experience the likes of which she hasn't had before. She's an Islander, so good live music for her is reggae or other such genre in the company of a small room full of other brown people.

She'll be fine, right?

[The Boss]

Alright.

Whoa.

Not sure where to begin.

I'm very excited about attempting a concert review for the first time, so I'll be working on that for the next half-hour.

Until then, some points (which, I've noticed, I like to do):

1. I have literally never seen, nor heard of anyone who plays drums quite like Adrienne Davies.

2. After (I'm pretty sure) six (!) tracks tonight, the next album is going to be killer. Unexpected, and killer.

2.a. After all the tweedling and atmosphere, it looks like Carlson has gone back to some pretty heavy and serious shit. The second and second last tracks tonight were unbelievably hypnotic and heavy. Both off the new one.

Get excited immediately.

3. Dude looks 55 to 60. He's 46.

Don't do drugs, kids.

4. MOTHRA.

K, off to flex some creative muscle at a quarter to 2 on a Sunday morning.

Thanks again for all the well-wishes. I really needed this tonight, and I had a blast. I was just what the doctor ordered.

[petemasterpete]

Good to hear ... Music does that

[The Boss]

Good to hear ... Music does that

Holy fuck, have you every tried to write a decent concert review before? I'm going for Julian Cope, but much more . . . well, sensible.

This shit is hard.

As inspiring as tonight was (oh, man, I gotta get a bass again ), it's kind of a smack in the face. I thought I was just naturally good at all forms of writing. Whoops.

Humbling.

Ah well, the only way out is UP. I did a thousand words in seven minutes, and it's mostly awful.

Tomorrow, good sir!

[fortysixand2]

"From the Zodiacal Light" streaming now.

[joeypants]

"From the Zodiacal Light" streaming now.

I... I've never listened to Earth before. This song is awesome. Will buy.